Refrigerated receptacle



N. B. H`oLT REFRIGERMED RECEPTACLE Filed Sept. 21, 1951 April 21, 193s.

Patented Apr. 21, 1936 Norris B. Holt, St. Louis, Mo.' ApplicationSeptember 21, 1931, Serial No. 563,985

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to refrigerated receptacles, and morespecifically to relatively small refrigerated -receptacles which may beemployed for various purposes, such, for instance, as butter boxes ondairy vehicles, containers for perishable foodstuffs taken o-n picnicsand excursions, refrigerated Vreceptacles adapted to be mounted onrunning boards of motor vehicles,

`and portable containers for ice' cream and other frozen dainties, thepredominant object of the' invention being to provide a simple structureof this type which will serve its function in a very eflicient manner.

Prior to this invention dairy vehicles which are employed in thedelivery of milk, butter, and other dairy productsto homes of users ofsaid dairy products were provided with butter boxes in which stocks ofbutter were contained, these butter boxes being refrigerated by piecesof ice which were placed in said boxes. The butter boxes referred to didnot function with the desired eiciency, inasmuch as melting of` the iceresulted in, the boxes being in a wet, messy condition most of the time,and said ice did not properly refrigerate lthe boxes, dueto the factthat the ice ordinarily was placed in the bottom portions ofthe boxes,which caused the butter to be located in the upper, warmer portions ofsaid boxes.

The refrigerated receptacle disclosed herein is ,of such improvedconstruction and arrangement that; the disadvantages encountered in theuse of the butter boxes formerly used will not be present. Theelimination of these disadvantages results largely from the fact that myimproved receptacle is designed for the use of so-called dry ice, orsolid carbon dioxide (CO2) hence the wet, messy condition referred toabove is not present. Also, the refrigerant of my improved box islocated above the goods located within the box which permits cold air tofollow its natural course and move downwardly to refrigerate properlythe goods disposedin the lower portion of the box.

Fig. 1 is a perspective of my improved refrigerated receptacle. I

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the refrigerated receptacleillustrated in Fig'. 1.

In the drawing, wherein is shown for theepurpose of illustration,merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates my improvedrefrigerated receptacle generally, said receptacle comprising a bodyportion B which is adapted to receive the goods to be refrigerated, anda lid C displaceably secured to the body portion B by suitable hinges DThe bodyv portion B of the re- (Cl. B20- 23) ceptacle A is provided bysuitably insulated walls, and the lid Cy is likewise of appropriateinsulated construction, as shown in Fig.. 2, the top edges of theupstanding walls of the body portion` and the' outer edge portion of thelid being provided with beveled faces, as indicated by the referencecharacter l at the point where the lid contacts with the body portionwhen said lid is in a closed f position. 'Ihe lid C is provided with asuitable handle 2 to facilitate opening and closing said lid. l l

Secured to the lid C of the receptacle at the lowermost face thereof,andv preferably toward the rear portion of said lid, is a receiver 3 forthe refrigerant by which the interior ofthe receptacle A is chilled. Asvalready stated herein, this refrigerant is preferably in the form ofsolid carbon dioxide and said refrigerant will be introduced into thereceiver of the improved receptacle in the form of one or more blocks.The 4refrigerant receiver 3 comprises oppositely disposed end walls 3a,a rear wall 3b, and a bottom wall 3c which, when the lid C is in itsclosed position, as shown in Fig. 2, is inclined rearwardly anddownwardly from theforward end of the receiver. As shown clearly inFigs. 1 and 2, the refrigerant receiver 3 is open at its front end, asindicated at,4.

The lid C of the receptacle A is provided with an opening 5 formedAtherethrough, which serves as a means of access to the interior of thereceptacle without the necessity offraising the lid C; The opening isclosed by a closure element 6, which preferablyls secured to the lid Cby suituable hinges. 1. The closure element isof insulated constructionjust as is the lid C, and preferably the marginal edge of the closureelement and the edge of the opening 5 are provided with beveled faceswhich contact with each other when the closure element is closed, asshown in Fig. 2. Also, the closure element is provided with a suitablehandle 8, which facilitates opening and closing said closure element.M

In the use of my Aimproved refrigerated receptacle, solid carbon dioxidein-the form of one or moreblocks is introduced into the refrigerantreceiver 3, said solid carbon dioxide being dropped into the open end 4of the receiver when the lid C of the receptacle is in an elevatedposition, and because of the inclined arrangement of the bottom wall 3of the refrigerant receiver/3 said solid carbon dioxide will not fallout of the receiver 3 when the lid C is moved'to a closed position. Whenthe goods have been .arranged within. the body portion of the receptacleand the refrigerant has been introduced into the refrigerant receiver 3as described, the lid C of thereceptacle is moved to its closedposition, and thereafter when Iit is desired to remove goods from thereceptacle, such removal is accomplished by displacing the closureelement 6 and removing the goods through the opening 5.

By locating the. refrigerant at the upper portion of the receptacle theair which is chilled by said refrigerant is permitted to follow itsnatural course and fall to the lower portion of the receptacle, therebydisplacing slightly warmer air within the receptacle which is movedupwardly to the upper portion of the receptacle, where said warmer airis likewise chilled by the refrigerant. Thus a circulation of air iscreated within the receptacle which will subject the goods within thereceptacle to the proper refrigerating action, whereby said goods willbe maintained in a rm and fresh condition at all times. Also, becausesolid .carbon dioxide is employed as the refrigerant, the undesirable.

Wet and messy condition formerly encountered when ice was used in butterboxes is eliminated.

. I claim:

1. A refrigerated receptacle comprising a body portion, a displaceablelid, a receiverfor a refrigerant secured to said lid and movabletherewith, said lid being provided with an opening formed therethrough,and a displaceable closure element for said opening, said receivercomprising a hollow element having an open end and provided with aninclined bottom wall.

2. A refrigerated receptacle comprising a body portion providing amainrefrigerating compartment, said body portion being produced by as.-sembled insulated walls, a. displaceable lid of insulated constructionfor said body "portion, a

`receiver for a refrigerant located within the upper portion of therefrigerating compartment and open thereto, said lid being provided withan opening formed therethrough which communicates directly with theentire compartment provided by the body portion including the portion ofthe compartment below the refrigerant receiver so that access may be hadthereto without. hindrance from the refrigerant receiver when saidrefrigerant receiver is in its normal position within the upperportionof the receptacle, and a displaceable closure element ofinsulated construction for said opening.

3. A refrigerated receptacle comprising a body portion providing a mainrefrigerating compartment, said body portion being produced by assembledinsulated walls, a displaceable lid for said body portion of insulatedconstruction, a receiver for a refrigerant fixed to said displaceablelid and open to said main refrigerating compartment, said lid beingprovided with an opening formed therethrough which communicates directlyWiththe entirecompartment provided by the body portion including theportion of the compartment below the refrigerant receiver so that accessmay be had thereto without hindrance from the refrigerantjreceiver whensaid refrigerant receiver is inits normal position within the upperportion of the receptacle, and a displaceable closure element ofinsulated construction for said opening.

4. A .refrigerated receptacle comprising a. body portion, a service lidcovering a part only of the top of said body portion, a second lidcovering the remaining part of said body portion, and a receiver for arefrigerant positioned Wholly below said second lid in the upper part ofsaid body portion and open to the interior thereof, whereby access tothe receptacle without hindrance from the receiver is provided throughsaid service lid and ready access to the receiver is provided when thesecond lid is opened.

NORRIS B. HOLT.

